The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would give Louisiana voters the opportunity in 2022 to decide if recreational marijuana use should be legal. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s proposal passed on a seven to five vote.
“What a vote for this bill does, is to acknowledge that the benefits to society is greater to have it legal, and have it taxed and have it regulated than it is just to have it be illegal and throw people in jail and fund cartels and fund the drug dealers,” said Nelson.
Nelson says taxing recreational marijuana use, can generate as much as 200-million dollars in state revenues. He says some of that money can go towards beefing up law enforcement.
“I think giving police the ability to add more officers, add more training, add more detectives to chase the real bad guys, I think is significant,” said Nelson.
The Louisiana Sheriff Association Executive Director Michael Ranatza says taxing the legal use of marijuana is not worth it, because it will bring on a host of other problems. He pointed to a study out of Colorado that shows marijuana was mostly likely to be present in adolescents who commit suicide.
“Is 100-million dollars worth the death of my child, my grandchild, is it worth the death of yours,” said Ranatza.
The Louisiana District Attorneys Association also opposes. St. Tammany and Washington Parish D-A Warren Montogmery says legalizing recreational marijuana will bring a host of problems.
“Name me a community where they legalized marijuana and you’ve seen decreased crime, name me a community where they legalized marijuana and you’ve seen decreased mental health issues,” said Montgomery.
With the committee passage of Nelson’s bill, the Louisiana House will have its first debate on a bill that seeks to legalize recreational marijuana use.
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